APRIL 2022 - FISSUE #163 it's ou r
13th
anniv ersa editio ry n!
The EVOLUTION of CANNABIS from 420 to legalization, Salt Spring’s first government cannabis store opens
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WHAT'S ON THE "ROCK" Page 8
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THE FISHBOWL • MAY 2021 • PAGE A
On Our Cover manager m i k e b u rd
From 4/20 to
Legalized Cannabis
4/20 is, in short, a holiday celebrating cannabis. Why April 20? There are a few possible explanations for why cannabis enthusiasts’ day of celebration landed on this day, but the real origin remains a bit of a mystery. It is said that the holiday came out of a ritual started by a group of individuals in the 1970s. The group of five Californians met to smoke cannabis, and search for an abandoned plot of cannabis plants they had heard about in the nearby forest, at 4:20 pm each day. The ritual spread, and soon 420 became code for smoking marijuana. Eventually 420 was converted into 4/20 for calendar purposes, and the day of celebration was born. Recreational marijuana officially became legal in Canada on October 17, 2018 It has been just over 3 years since legalization and BC now has more than 400 licensed retail stores. The number of available products has also mushroomed to more than 3,500. As of October 17, 2019, cannabis edible products and concentrates became legal for sale and new products and accessories are continually being introduced. Whether one is seeking the uplifting and creative effects from a Sativa strain, a relaxed “in da couch” experience from an Indica strain, or a balance of the two from a hybrid strain, there is sure to be a product to fit the bill. My first visit to Harvest Moon was on invitation by store manager, About Harvest Moon Cannabis Harvest time has been a revered time of the year by all cultures across the globe for many thousands of years. The Harvest was almost as significant as the New Year’s celebration. This time marked the end of the year’s hard work, labour, and focus. Celebrations were a central theme of the Harvest. This is when festivities included family and friend gatherings, reunions, celebrations, and giving thanks to the Harvest. A restoring of energy. The harvest of cannabis inspired the store’s name. It aims to draw on the culture of celebrating the harvest and the sharing of time with friends. The harvest moon also represents balance, abundance, and the lifting of spirits. Long before government licensing, cannabis had the sense of being a product to consume in the dusk, in the evening when the work was done, and rest and relaxation is practiced.
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Mike Burd. My first impression was wow, honestly, wow! The boutique store is modern and stunning. The staff is truly outstanding, and the product options are varied and of the highest quality. I was given a tour of each area and option offered, from flower and pre rolls, to vapes and cartridges, edibles, concentrates, oils & capsules, topicals and even beverages; the options are endless. CBD or THC, and blends of both. As Salt Spring’s only 19+ government licensed store, the team is striving to meet all our Island’s cannabis needs. What does it mean to be government licensed? Simply, there is a “sourceto-consumer” record of product. This means that every grower and processor must meet strict quality standards and that the source of each product is known precisely. Also, the quantity of THC and CBD in each product is measured and verified for accuracy, thereby ensuring that the consumer can confidently purchase products knowing there will be no surprises in the contents. In addition to following provincial laws and conditions, sales staff must hold a “Selling It Right” training certificate. Some rules are stringent, such as not being able to see cannabis products from outside the store. However, as regulators gain more experience with the industry, more options are becoming available to consumers. Currently, all products sold must be purchased through the government’s cannabis warehouse, but it is expected that retailers like Harvest Moon will be able to purchase directly from licensed local suppliers in the near future. Mike and the team strive to be the Island’s trusted source of adult recreational cannabis. They hope to break down stigmas of cannabis use. They truly are experts and are happy to educate you in the properties of each product. There is more to Cannabis than getting high. And, while they can’t prescribe you medical advice, they can point you in the right direction once you have spoken to your doctor or other medical practitioner. Mike says “our budtenders can tell you the expected product experience based upon available literature and personal experience, but that may differ from your own experience.” Harvest Moon staff have noticed that a significant portion of their customers are boomers seeking reliable recreational cannabis products with known quantities of CBD (which does not produce a high) and/or THC to assist with sleep, anxiety, mood, creativity, and pain. With so many new cannabis products on the market with varying strains and potency, Mike’s advice to customers is to “start low and go slow.” Reference: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021PSSG0081-001977
THE FISHBOWL is brought to you by publisher Genevieve Price.
Ad Sales: Deadlines are the 10th of the month previous to book ad space & submit content.
Columnists: Seth Shugar, Mishka Campbell, Jen Redpath, Jessica Terezakis & nora bouz.
Calendar events can be submitted up until the 15th.
Green Printing & Layout: Imagine That Graphics.ca
For rates & information call Genevieve today at 250.538.8427 or email thesaltyfishbowl@hotmail.com. THE FISHBOWL • MAY 2021 • PAGE B
Price is
Right
Calling Artists, Artisans and Craftspeople
PRODUCT REVIEWS by: Genevieve Price
REVLON SUPER LUSTROUS-THE GLOSS Now that we have the choice to ditch our masks I of course ran out and bought a new gloss for a little pop. I have the shade snow pink, it is a light pink, and it has some shimmer. The colour doesn't really show off on your lips, instead, it is more like a clear gloss which is what I was expecting. It wears great over my MAYBELLINE SUPERSTAY Ink Crayon, which I reviewed a few months back on days I want a little more punch. The formula is smooth, mildly sticky but overall, quite nice with little to no scent or taste. The one disadvantage is it does wear fairly easily, so be ready to reapply.
Sponsored by
his to ric p ho to s o f m a ho n ha ll with tha nks to s a lt s p ring a rchives
Salt Spring Arts has a new website, and a full slate of Artist Calls open this month.
Artist in the Class (AiC): For over twenty years, AiC has delivered creative mentoring and arts opportunities in Salt Spring schools in a wide variety of creative forms – visual, performing, literary, media, dance and more. We produce an annual catalogue of available artists’ workshops for distribution to local schools. Artists are paid for instructional time by the Arts Council, so kids, teachers and schools access Artists in the Class at no charge. AiC Seeks performers and artists with passion and skill for working with kids and youth. More Info: saltspringarts.com/artist-in-the-class/ Deadline: May 31, 2022 Grants & Awards Seeking applications for local projects that are of cultural benefit to our SSI community. Applications may be from local individuals or groups (must be a SSA members) requiring minor financial support. Grants & Awards fosters innovation, creativity, and experimentation in the arts and sharing those experiences with members of the larger community More Info: saltspringarts.com/grants-awards/ Deadline: April 30, 2022 Artcraft BC’s largest and longest running Gallery of its kind, Artcraft, opens June 10. We are currently seeking new and returning artists, artisans and craftspeople to be part of this annual juried presenting 100 artists under one (historic) roof. We encourage submissions from new and established Salt Spring Island makers, as well as those from across the Southern Gulf Islands, including Indigenous artists for whom these islands are ancestral territories. We are currently seeking applications from artists, groups or curators for Showcase Exhibitions 2023 – these may include proposals for individual or collaborative shows, in any medium and encompass any genre from fine craft to conceptual art. More Info: saltspringarts.com/artcraft/ Deadlines: New / Juried Submissions: April 15, 2022 Returning Registration: April 22, 2022 Showcase Exhibitions (2023): June 30, 2022 Murals on Salt Spring Salt Spring Arts and the Chamber of Commerce are partnering to produce new artist murals in Ganges. Each Mural call is site specific. We seek submissions of creative concepts that speak to the unique mural location and reflect the themes of sustainability, reciprocity and creativity. More Info: saltspringarts.com/calls-for-artists/ Deadline: April 15, 2022
THE FISHBOWL • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 4
For Everyone
Yoga
with Dorothy Price
We’ve had more than a few of you write in to ask… what is Dorothy up to these days. So here ya go. FB: Tell us about your life as a yoga teacher. For 20 years, accumulating thousands of hours of teaching experience, I have taught weekly yoga classes, retreats, and yoga teacher training here on Salt Spring Island. I have also held retreats in many beautiful places, including France, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Bali, Ecuador and Mexico. It has been wonderful! FB: Tell us about your latest project? My latest effort has been starting an Online Yoga School! I have taped and uploaded many hours’ worth of yoga videos (all taught by me!) to this “membership site”. The videos vary in length and address different levels of ability. They include Asana (poses), Pranayama (breathwork), and Dhyana (meditation). I also include live Zoom classes. Lots of heart and soul has gone into creating this site! Many of my online students have let me know how much they enjoy the online experience…much to their surprise! They find the convenience and the privacy afforded by doing these classes at home is exactly what they need to get them on the mat. They say they do more yoga now than ever before! To make yoga doable and enjoyable to all, I weave in many alignment cues and modifications as I teach. This helps students with or without body challenges enjoy what they can do with their bodies, not forcing them into a pose beyond their ability. FB: What do you love about yoga? I have been passionate about yoga for over 40 years!
Trigger warning: Sexual assault
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, an annual campaign to end stigma, raise awareness, work towards prevention, and support survivors of sexualized violence. Many of us know someone who has been sexually assaulted. If you’re unsure what to do or say to support this person, here are some helpful, simple suggestions 1. “Thank you for telling me. It must have taken a lot of courage for you to tell me.” Telling someone about being sexually assaulted takes courage. Listen with empathy, respect, and without judgment. Although it’s normal to feel anger, try and remain calm: being angry may cause your loved one more stress. 2. “I believe you.” Three simple words that can mean a lot. For some people, it takes a long time to share their story. They may fear being judged or not being believed. Don’t probe, but let them know they can share as little or as much as they choose. If the assault happened a long time ago, acknowledge that it doesn’t mean it still isn’t painful. 3. “What happened to you was not your fault. You didn’t do anything to deserve this.” A lot of survivors blame themselves, especially if they know the person who assaulted them. Remind survivors that the only person to blame for a sexual assault is the person who assaulted them. 4. “You are not alone. I am here for you. How can I support?” Let survivors lead in their own healing journey. If they don’t know what they need, that’s okay. Let them know there’s on-island help. If they’re interested, offer resources and let them choose what works for them. Healing and support look different for every person; it isn’t helpful to pressure someone to get support if they aren’t ready. 5. “I am sorry this happened to you.” Be empathetic and acknowledge how difficult it must have been. Sexual assault can have lasting impacts on people’s sense of self and their mental, physical, and spiritual health. For some, healing can take a long time. Support and care need to be ongoing.
Aside from the physical benefits, yoga has helped settle my nerves and has greatly lessened anxiety and fear. I wanted to share this wonderful practice with the whole world! So, in 2002, I became a yoga teacher. I can’t imagine my life without yoga. While reading books and articles or watching videos about anything to do with yoga, physical fitness, breathwork or meditation, I am constantly gleaning for ideas on how to help keep my students (and me!) healthy. All yoga teachers are like this... we are obsessed! FB: Last words? I sincerely want my online yoga school to be accessible to everyone, so I have a “sliding scale” option for payment. I have some very affordable options! For an overview of what and how I teach, a sample class, and pricing, please go to my Teachable site. onlineyogaclasseswithdorothyprice.teachable.com Or, to learn about live classes and retreats, please check out my website. santosha-yoga-retreats.com
See you on the mat! ~ Dorothy
Healing from sexual assault is possible. It takes time. Support must come from a foundation of belief, dignity, respect, and choice. If you or someone you know has been affected by sexualized violence and would like more information about our Sexual Assault Response Program, please visit IWAV’s website: https://iwav.org/ sexual-assault-response-program/. Phone (250) 931-7712 or email the SARP Coordinator: sarc@iwav.org
THE FISHBOWL • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 5
Well Being Interior Design with nora bouz
Live on Stage in April Musical artists from near and far this month, both geographically and musically. We bring you performances of contemporary folk and roots music, and a songbook from the Spanish renaissance. It’s an exciting time for Canadian quartet The Fretless, who return to ArtSpring on April 7. The already multi-award winning progressive folk group have scored a Juno award nomination for their 2021 album Open House (the award ceremony is May 15). Described as their most ambitious recording to date, the beautiful album is a 10-track guest singer collaboration, f e a t u r i n g powerhouse vocalists including Dan Mangan, Ruth Moody, and Celeigh Cardinal. The Fretless are a supergroup themselves, with the four members also celebrated solo artists. If you were at their last show here, back in 2017, you’ll remember an infectious camaraderie among the musicians and a fresh, dynamic sound building on that of a classic folk quartet. Soprano María Cristina Kiehr and vihuela and lute player Ariel Abramovich will be travelling from Europe for their concert here on April 29. Both born in Argentina, and foremost early music players, Kiehr and Abramovich have been working together for nine years. In 2019 they recorded a reconstruction of a songbook for voice and vihuela as would have been published th in Spain in the 16 century. Imaginario: De un libro de música de vihuela is based on actual books of renaissance music published between 1536-1576, but with Kiehr and Abramovich’s own unique perspectives and creativity tying each piece – either in music or text – back to an original work. Kiehr’s stunning soprano voice, accompanied by Abramovich’s mastery on the vihuela – get ready for a unique and beautiful evening. ArtSpring Presents: The Fretless, Thursday April 7, at 7:30pm. Proudly sponsored by Mouat’s Old Salty. María Cristina Kiehr and Ariel Abramovich, Friday April 29, at 7:30pm. Proudly sponsored by Regan Hunt. Box Office: tickets.artspring.ca 250.537.2102 | tickets@artspring.ca Proof of vaccination is required for every patron age 12+ attending events. Patrons age 19+ are also required to show a piece of valid government photo ID. Face masks are mandatory at all times for everyone age 5+. See our website artspring.ca for more information.
THE FISHBOWL • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 6
Bringing Nature Indoors It is beyond the scope of this article to cover the multitude of our connections to the natural world. For thousands of years, Indigenous communities around the world have understood the depth of these connections and their benefits to our wellbeing. In more modern times, the different fields of science have been examining the human-nature relationship and its impact on health and happiness. A 2015 Stanford study found that a 90-minute walk in nature can reduce depression, and a 2018 study found that people who spend time in nature have lower stress levels than people who go to the gym. Innovative organizations like Google and Etsy have designed their offices using the most supportive natural elements and arrangements to create healthy and enjoyable work environments for their employees. These spaces -looking nothing like a conventional office- cultivate happiness, productivity, and creativity and fittingly increase financial returns. Some hospitals in Norway have been built in nature, with patients’ rooms built like cabins- with zigzagging wooden paths wide enough to wheel a hospital bed - to make the journey to the “cabin” feel a bit like a trek in the forest. As island dwellers, we have the privilege of living right in the heart of wild nature. However, many of us can spend as much as 80% of our time indoors. This calls for us to re-examine the spaces where we spend our time and purposefully bring nature into our indoor life. To help create a natural environment in your space, here are some elements to consider: • Share your living or workspace with an arrangement of living breathing plant life. Think about plants that remind you most of wild nature and arrange them as they may be in nature, creating a conversation with the outside world. • Having large windows with nature views and letting natural light in will solidify the indoor-outdoor connection. • The floor can be another path that connects the indoors to the outdoor. Plan for seamless or minimal transition for the floor if you have a glass door to a garden. • Arrange the space and layout to allow meandering instead of straight lines and square angles. Create different levels and heights for the eyes to explore. • Nature offers many colour palettes throughout the day and seasons; you can use any of these colour palettes with the hue concentration that is most appealing to you and create a sense of balance and harmony. • Be mindful of the objects and products you surround yourself with, and make sure there is balance with the elements: wood, water, fire, metal, and earth. Integrating nature and its elements in our home, office, clinic, health center, or hospital will transform them into nurturing, warm, supportive, and healing environments and support restoring our connections with the natural world, the source of our health and happiness. Nora is an interior designer focusing on well-being in the built environment. Based on studies in environmental psychology, natural building, and sustainability, Nora works with the most impactful design elements to improve the quality of life indoors. 250-418-0754 norabouz@lucidaforwellbeing.ca | www.lucidaforwellbeing.ca
The
Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed
Presents The 15th Annual Spring Art Show Mahon (Memorial) Hall: The Nature of Memory APR 15 - 24, 2022 | Mahon Hall, Salt Spring Island
cu ra t o rs stefan i e d e n z an d ch r i s a rn e t t
Mahon Memorial Hall has long served as a focal point and a gathering place for the Salt Spring Island community. It was first imagined in 1900 as an agricultural hall for growers from the Gulf Islands. The building was financed in part by Ross Mahon, but after his tragic death the executors of his estate made a gift of the mortgage under the condition “...that a brass plate bearing the words ‘Mahon Memorial Hall’ be placed on the building.” That memorial plaque remains visible above the stage proscenium. Mahon Hall - as it’s known today - continues to feature the talents and products of people from the Gulf Island individuals, though the ste fan i e d e n z focus now is on arts i n pro g re s s and culture. The 15th Annual Spring Art Show, April 15 24 2022 - Mahon (Memorial) Hall: The Nature of Memory - commemorates the Hall, or more precisely how we remember it, the stories it holds, conceals and has generated. The 2022 Spring Arts Show, co-curator by Stefanie Denz and Chris j e n h ol m es Arnett PhD, includes works by over twenty visual artists reflecting both individual and communal relationships to the Hall. But this historic and seemingly benign structure was a product of the colonization of an island peopled and stewarded by several Coast Salish groups. Ganges Harbour was a layover for people canoeing from Maple Bay to other Gulf islands and onto the Fraser River delta. What we now know as Ganges included both a village and a burial site, yet was one of 17 village sites on the island. The Spring Art Show explores our relationship to the Hall and its place in our memories. Artists are diving into stories of the building: the circumstances of its erection, the land it occupies, its many community uses. Personal memories are infused and augmented with an historical reflection, inspiring a recalibrated relationship to the building that is explored in photographs, installations, paintings and drawings. In addition to the anchor exhibit, the Spring Art Show includes a full slate of programming taking place at Mahon Hall: the Annex Youth Exhibit, Art on the Hall, Artists Talks and panels, as well as performances. Read a brief History of the Hall by Chris Arnett: saltspringarts.com/mahon-hall/ For more information: Salt Spring Arts: info@ssartscouncil.com | 250-537-0899
Mishka’s
Book
Reviews with Mishka Campbell
Shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2021, “The Fortune Men” is a fictionalized account of a true crime that occurred in Cardiff, Wales in 1952. The murder of a local shopkeeper (her actual name has been changed in the book at the request of her family) is the central plot point, but the book is really about the accused, a man wrongfully executed for a crime he did not commit. Mahmood Mattan, a Somali sailor, was subjected to a massive miscarriage of justice. The “investigation” was inept; there appears to be no real evidence of any kind that he had anything to do with it, and yet a trial and conviction proceeded, rife with racism and prejudice. The author does an incredible job at breathing life into this slice of history. She spent time conducting interviews in both Cardiff and Hargeisa, visited archives and the prison museum, and just straight up immersed herself as much as possible. Her own background is SomaliBritish and her father actually knew Mahmood so perhaps she is uniquely poised to deliver a compassionate, nuanced portrait. It’s challenging to write historical fiction. You are taking facts that can sometimes be sparsely detailed, like just a few short newspaper clippings, and you need to weave a whole engaging tale, creating complex characters with rich inner lives, and a setting that comes across as authentically of that time and place. I read a lot of historical fiction and I especially enjoyed this novel because in this case, that difficult task appears effortless. This story is an important one, and it can be both heartbreaking and infuriating to read. However, I’d be remiss to not mention that there’s also humour to be found in these pages…and love, definitely love. Mahmood was married to a Welsh woman, Laura, and together they had 3 children, David, Omar, and Mervyn. As an interracial couple in the 1950s they’d suffered, and after Mahmood’s death, Laura and the boys experienced extreme poverty and racist violence. Their fictionalized relationship seems to have its ups and downs, but real-life Laura is quoted as saying “he was a very good husband and father”. She fought to have Mahmood’s conviction overturned and over 45 years later it finally was, with the epitaph on his new gravestone reading, “Killed by Injustice”. I’ll say his name again, Mahmood Hussein Mattan…we should all know his story.
THE FISHBOWL • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 7
What’s Happening on the Rock April Live Entertainment
Legion Branch 92 Entertainment Schedule April 2nd Everyday people 7:30 April 9th Rocky horror picture show movie night 7:30 April 16th Dave Carl band 7:30 April 22nd earth day with rough and tumble 7:22 April 23rd The Regulars 7:30 April 30th The Sugar Beats 7:30 April 1, 15 and 29 Karaoke 7:30 Open mic every Thursday
ArtSpring Entertainment Schedule Tickets - tickets.artspring.ca | 250.537.2102
MOBY's Live Entertainment Every Tuesday Trivia 7:30pm Every Wednesday Music Bingo 7:30pm April 2 Saturday Ange Hehr band 8:00pm April 9 Saturday Superfeather 8:00pm April 15 Friday Buck Dodgers 8:00pm April 16 Saturday Everyday People April 23 Saturday Morien Jones Trio 8:00pm April 30 Saturday Sharon Bailey band 8:00pm
The Guilds of Salt Spring Show & Sale April 14 | 1pm-4pm April 15-18 | 10am-4pm ArtSpring galleries
Cleopatra, Queen of Exile Sunday April 3 | 2pm $30 adult | $20 senior | $15 youth
ArtSpring Presents: María Cristina Kiehr and Ariel Abramovich Friday April 29 | 7:30pm $30 adult | $5 youth
ArtSpring Presents: The Fretless Thursday April 7 | 7:30pm $30 adult | $5 youth
Salt Spring Painters Guild exhibition April 1-29 open during box office hours and prior to theatre events
PEACE WORKS! Earth day April 22, 3pm Bring your drum, bring your rattle, bring your dancing feet. Call Cheri 250-537-1027
Wednesday, April 6
SETTLING THIS UNCEDED LAND
April Offerings Tuesday, April 12 Poetry for Peace
Online on Zoom 7pm to 8:30pm Peace has never been more needed, especially with the war in the Ukraine and its effects around the world. Yet our small acts of peace, such as reading and listening to poetry, make a difference. Poetry’s transformative power can put us in touch with our own inner peace, allowing us to share it with others for deeper wholeness, compassion, and healing. Please join us for this evening and bring a poem or two for peace to read or hear and respond to poems brought by others. The evening will be facilitated by poet Lorraine Gane. Please register at staroftheseassi@gmail.com to receive the Zoom link. Donations for participation in these events are welcome.
THE FISHBOWL • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 8
Online on Zoom 7pm to 8:30pm We are on the unceded territory of …. We are increasingly accustomed to hearing this phrase at the beginning of meetings and before announcements, but what does it really mean, and why is it necessary? What are the implications for me? If I am a settler, on what basis am I here? What does the law say? These are just a few of many questions raised as we confront our history and consider how we live with Indigenous Canadians, as we learn what was unquestioned and assumed, before we knew better. The Star of the Sea Centre invites you to join us as we focus on these questions. We will begin by providing participants a link, on or about March 23, to a very well done but provocative and deeply disturbing film: Doctrine of Discovery: Stolen Lands, Strong Hearts. We will give participants two weeks to watch and, perhaps, re-watch the film to really understand its message. The film raises profound issues about which most of us who are non-indigenous are unaware. We will then come together via Zoom on April 6 for a discussion of the points raised in the film, the impact of the experience, and the implications on how we as Canadians live with these understandings. We may find we want to continue the conversation to address some of the issues. The Star of the Sea invites you to join us in deepening our understanding of this most important matter and its effect on our living in this society at this time, on this land. Please register at staroftheseassi@gmail.com to firstly receive the link to the film and then the Zoom link to attend the April 6 event.
David Carl is pleased to announce the official release of his remotely recorded album “Somewhere On Wheels” The album features Steve Dawson on guitars, Jeremy Holmes on upright bass and mandolin and Gary Craig on drums. Please come out April 16, when David with guest musicians will be performing songs from this album and other Country Canadiana music at the Legion Branch 92 on Salt Spring. David’s Somewhere on Wheels album can be found on all streaming platforms with CD’s available at https://davidcarl.bandcamp. com/album/somewhere-on-wheels or direct from David April 16, 2022
For the last two years people across the planet have embraced outdoor activities including
taking
dancing
into nature and community parks.
Many
groups
use
the Silent Disco system, where people dance to music listened to on wireless headphones, rather than using a speaker system, music is broadcast via a FM radio transmitter with the signal being picked up by wireless headphones worn by the participants. Spending time outdoors is so good for our nervous systems and our general wellbeing. Dance, namely free form Conscious Dance, provides massive social, cognitive and physical benefits, plus it is tons of fun dancing in the park, the beach and the forests of Salt Spring Island. No experience is necessary, no steps to learn, just your courageous heart & body, doing your very own dance.
Lightly
facilitated with an eclectic range of music to get everybody moving. Hosted by Shauna Devlin and guest DJs & Facilitators (5Rhythms, Dance Temple & Dance Your Ability) For more information: shaunadevlin.net Facebook: DANCE OUTSIDE Salt Spring Island
THE FISHBOWL • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 9
Jen’ll Tell Ya Featuring Jen Redpath & Jessica Terezakis
the
Sweet Spot with Seth Shugar
When Your Soul is Also Your Mate Sperm! Ejaculation! The smallest cell in the human body is a sperm cell, also known as a spermatozoon ( say that five times fast!). They measure about 50 microns or 0.0005 cm long and require a microscope with 400x magnification just to see. What they lack in size, they certainly make up in numbers. In a healthy individual, a single ejaculation contains approximately 500 million sperm, and every day about 1000 new sperm are created per second, which works out to be 30 billion a year! We know, that is a whole lot of swimmers, but fear not, they are not coming for you (pun intended)! Sperm are very particular about their environment. The temperature, pH (acidity), and nutrients need to be just right to keep them happy and functional, or at least to achieve their purpose (conception). Sperm can’t live outside the human body for very long, but it is important to note that they can live in the vagina for up to five days. That is why if you’re not trying to get pregnant, we recommend always using protection, like a barrier (condoms), hormonal birth control, or fertility awareness method. Sometimes sperm can also be found in pre-ejaculate. Preejaculate is made from the Cowpers glands at the base of the penis. The purpose of this fluid is to lubricate the urethra so that semen (sperm and seminal fluid) can move easily out of the body during ejaculation. Technically this fluid does not contain sperm HOWEVER if there was sperm within the urethra from a previous ejaculation there is a risk of pregnancy if all the other factors, pH, temp, and of course ovulation lined up. Although semen and sperm are used interchangeably, they are different. Semen is what is produced during ejaculation and is the medium that carries the sperm. Semen contains water, mucus, sugar (fructose), acids, and bases that nourish the sperm and protect it from vaginal acidity. Fun fact for all you folks counting calories: Semen only contains about 5-10 calories per ejaculation! We also wanted to share an exciting new study. A new birth control has come out for people with testicles. How it works: the testicles are dipped in an ultrasonic ‘bath’, that temporarily halts sperm regeneration for approximately 3 months! With no hormonal side effects and easily reversible, this may be the most convenient birth control ever created. It’s founder, Rebecca Weisshas won a James Dyson Award: https://www.dezeen. com/2021/09/02/coso-ultrasound-male-contraception-device/ for this amazing ingenuity. So far, her product the “Coso” has only been tested successfully on animals, let’s hope that it will be available for people soon too! If you’ve got more than questions that are burning, come see us! Options for Sexual Health is located on the 2nd floor, 134 McPhilips Ave Salt Spring Island and our hours are 4:30pm - 6:30pm Tuesdays. Interested in volunteering with a progessive sex positive organization? Check out https://www.optionsforsexualhealth.org for more information under the Get Involved tab.
Stay Sexy Salty! THE FISHBOWL • APRIL 2022 • PAGE 10
Although Shel Silverstein’s Missing Piece books are insightful and prescient, they are undoubtedly missing a piece. While they charmingly convey the ancient insight that dissatisfaction can never be extinguished by attaining the objects of our desire, and beautifully depict the ground-breaking solution of self-partnering, with the exception of a single glorious image they do not show what it actually looks like for two self-partnered beings to roll together in an ongoing partnership. It was likely Shel Silverstein’s childhood wounds that prevented him from fleshing out this vision. Growing up in Chicago during the Great Depression, his elderly and financially-stressed parents fought so much that he vowed early on he would never get involved in a committed long-term relationship, a promise he kept his entire life. Which leaves us with the question: what does it look like? Here’s a sketch. First, because both partners are self-partnered (i.e. they cultivate a healthy ongoing partnership between their self and the various parts of their personality) they become so securely attached internally that they have the courage to fully attach to their external partners. Why? Because despite the undeniable potential for pain and loss, our hearts dilate when our parts know that we will be there for them, come what may. Only after relinquishing the fantasy of finding our soul mate and realizing that our soul is our mate can we fully open to our soul mate. Self-partnering also allows us to become less needy because we no longer expect our partner to be our missing piece. Yes, they help us heal and grow, but we know from lived experience that we can help ourselves do this too, so our well-being is no longer reliant on them. This frees both partners to become who they are rather than playing the characters their partners may be trying to cast them in. At the same time, however, because both partners are in partnership with their own parts, they can act as their significant other’s other significant other, holding space for them with love during moments of reactivity. After all, the more intimate we become with our own edgy parts and the vulnerabilities they protect, the more patient and understanding we can be when confronted with our partner’s edgy parts and the vulnerabilities they too protect. As within, so without. Thus when external conflict inevitably arises, we not only see it as a blueprint for both growth and awakening, but we act accordingly. When we find our edge, we pause and shift our attention away from the wounder to the wound itself. Why? Because the best way to connect with our partners and improve what’s happening between us is to first connect with ourselves and attend to what’s happening inside us. How? By finding the edgy part in the body, discovering its stories and hopes, soothing its fears and vulnerabilities and attending to its wants and needs. Then, in a re-turn, we can report to our partners what we found when we went inside. Rinse, repeat. Seth is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Marital and Family Therapist and Board Certified Life Coach. He works with individuals and couples in private practice. You can reach him at sethshugar@me.com or book a session at www.sethshugar.com
Scopes Brought to you by our own in-house astrologer who now goes by her numerologically correct name of “Ya Righta”
Aries
Telling your partner that you
is red rain. You really must stop
probably not going to win you
pretending that the pictures
Taurus
Be warned about your general demeanour today as others will not take kindly to happy go
Itching may be a sign of bad things to come. Or bad things
Gemini
Sagittarius
You are important, at least as
There might not be a tomorrow,
important as the discovery of
but all indications point to yes.
the dock leaf when you were
So there’s that.
Watch out for overweight dogs when it's raining. Sorry Stuart.
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Scorpio that have been?
Cancer Leo
A masterplan is forming inside
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your niece draws are real.
lucky fools.
stung by a nettle as a child.
APRIL 15 - 24
Purple clouds are not usual, nor
are better than they at sex, is any favours.
the 15th Annual
Libra
your head and you'll be ready to put it into action any day now.
Capricorn Your desire for more money will never come true unless you get off your arse and do something.
Aquarius If you don't claim that free holiday, you'll never win it.
Virgo
Pisces
Laughter will help you today,
When asked to perform in a
especially if you really want to
successful jazz band, consider all
avoid crying.
your options before accepting.
Artist Talks Youth Exhibit Performances Art on the Hall
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